SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Korea Bizwire) - The commander of the North Korean military’s strategic missile defense branch has been promoted to a four-star general, possibly thanks to recent progress in the country’s missile development, a North Korean documentary showed. Kim Rak-gyom, previously the three-star commander of the Strategic Forces under the Korean People’s Army, was seen [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – A growing number of North Korean key party and military officials has been fleeing the communist country to evade leader Kim Jong-un’s reign of terror, a source familiar with North Korean affairs said Monday. Kim has purged or executed many North Korean officials, Seoul’s intelligence agency earlier said, putting [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Korea Bizwire) - North Korea unveiled detailed plans Wednesday to develop its special economic zone in the border city of Rason aimed at luring foreign investment amid an economic slowdown and a series of U.N. sanctions. The North made public the comprehensive plan in what is seen as part of efforts to turn [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to visit North Korea this week, a high-level U.N. source said Sunday, a surprise trip that raises hope for progress in inter-Korean relations and efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff.’ Ban’s visit to Pyongyang will be the first time in his capacity [...]
PAJU, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The U.S. industrial giant General Electric opened a collaboration office in the South Korean border city of Paju Monday as part of efforts to expand business in preparation of the unification of the two Koreas. GE held an opening ceremony to celebrate the opening of its office at Paju [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – For foreign travel agencies, the annual Pyongyang Marathon is apparently a good business opportunity. They are promoting a variety of tour programs to the secretive communist nation in connection with the event. The next one will be held on April 10 next year. Young Pioneer Tours, based in China, [...]
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The former head of a U.N. investigative panel on North Korea’s human rights issue called Tuesday for renewed international attention to the problem, saying looking away from the issue amounts to turning away from what the Nazis did in the 1930s. Michael Kirby, a retired Australian judge who headed [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – Separated families from North and South Korea have finally had a chance to meet. Tears of joy and sadness flowed as family members embraced for the first time in decades. The 20th meeting of separated families was held at Mt. Geumgang’s reunion center. The first meeting lasted for two [...]
“Kim Jong-il said that ‘There is nothing to be scared about once we develop a satellite’. He told scientists to develop a satellite no matter what. In April 1991, Kim Jong-il gave medals and television sets to scientists and engineers when he received a report that there was a breakthrough in the development. He said [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea expressed hope Wednesday that the two Koreas would stage reunions as scheduled next month for families separated since the 1950-53 Korean War. Ju Chul-ki, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs, made the comment a day after North Korea warned that it could cancel the reunions in anger [...]